AMELUP drafts memo for PM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 29 2024: The Apunba Meitei Ema Lup (AMELUP) is submitting a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra urging him to discuss the Manipur issue in the Parliament's ongoing session, said the organisation's convenor L Rebati at Manipur Press Club, Imphal today.

Speaking to reporters, Rebati said the memorandum will be submitted to the Prime Minister's Office through the Governor.

The memorandum will urge the Centre to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur to identify and repatriate illegal immigrants.

It will urge the Centre to scrap the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement signed with Kuki militant organisations, remove Kuki illegal immigrants from the ST list, and further appeal to not crackdown on Meitei village volunteers, Rebati said.

The State as a whole and the indigenous people are facing serious threats on multiple fronts from illegal immi- grants.

The issues concerning Manipur must be discussed in the Parliament to bring about a solution, she said.

Rebati said the first step to resolving the Manipur issue would be to implement the NRC in Manipur.

The influx of illegal immigrants has always been an issue and this has been aggravated by the inclusion of 'Any Kuki Tribe' in the ST list, said Rebati.

Recognising illegal immigrants as Scheduled Tribe and giving them benefits not entitled to them otherwise violates the Constitution.

The inclusion of 'Any Kuki Tribe' as a Scheduled Tribe has encouraged more influx of illegal immigrants.

'Any Kuki Tribe' must be removed from the ST list, she added.

On the Suspension of Operation (SoO), Rebati said the agreement has been a safe haven for Kuki militants who have attacked and killed Meiteis.

The agreement, she said, is providing them impunity.

The Government of India must scrap the SoO agreement and take up strong action against the Kuki militants, she added.

Rebati further stated that no action shall be taken against Meitei village volunteers who are defending their villages and families from Kuki militants.

"The Kuki militants have attacked, burnt hundreds of houses and killed civilians.

In the face of such vicious and heinous attacks, the Meitei youths are volunteering themselves to defend their villages and families.

Security forces must crack down on Kuki militants.

Those defending their villages and families must not be harmed, she said.

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